Behind the lens…
Streatham Redskins photographer Rick Webb reveals all about capturing the team in digital, why he has such a passion for photography and who his favourite players are to snap.
In an extended interview from the one featured in the matchday programme, Rick reveals that Streatham ice hockey club has been important to him from a young age and there is more than meets the eye, to the man stood on a step at the far end of the rink every home game.
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How did you end up taking pictures at hockey games?
As a kid  ( 16 & 20` ish ) … I spent a lot of time skating at Streatham ice rink , Mondays, Wednesdays,  Friday,  Saturday & Sundays , it was a big part of my youth , I was ok at it and did ask the great Red Imrie for a trial but  the Redskins were doing really well at the time and didn`t really need any new players & I hadn’t come up through the  youth section & I wasn`t the biggest of kids. We skated at Richmond  during Streatham`s refurbishment  (late 70`s early 80`s) & was aware that when Richmond got demolished  for redevelopment  with the promise of a new rink …….it never happened . It was scandalous .
Most Sundays we would watch a game in the upstairs bar  with ( Red`s wife ) Marie & his daughter Alison  banging the glass screaming at the Nottingham Panthers. Tony Goldstone,  Gary Stefan, Robin Andrew  were all playing for the Redskins.  Gary Cloonan who I knew  a little too  from bowling  and Mark Howell, who was in my class at school . Craig Melancon, Doug Mcoursky, the legendary Peter Quiney and many more quality players were icing for Streatham.
I did  do  a few  hockey training sessions at the Sobell sports centre in Islington  but the late nights were a pain with work and I discovered motorbikes & girls , so it kind of fizzled out .
When I heard  a couple of years back that Streatham was due to be demolished , I thought  of Richmond & “oh no , not again†!  ……  I came down to the rink to see what was going on and to see if could help out an any small way, maybe take a few pics of the hockey games and make a fuss in the local papers , join any action groups  and generally raise its profile .
It was such a big part of my youth and I got to thinking where would our youngsters of today hangout , have fun , exercise …meet a few girls etc. . I thought it would have been a  massive loss to south London and today`s youngsters .
Fortunately by the time I got involved Tesco and Lambeth had already agreed the new Streatham hub / leisure centre .
I had only recently purchased a new DSLR camera and also saw it as a great opportunity to familiarise myself   & become fluent with it, for messing around with the dials `n buttons on the fly.
It’s easy to get lost in the menu`s and sub menu`s . I always enjoyed the Ice Hockey and  having an interest in photography & knowing as a fast indoor sport it was a bit of a challenge, I quickly realised the lighting and glass were limiting factors , I’ve since addressed the  glass issue with some of Nikons finest .
It was more importantly also a great way to raise the profile of the Redskins hockey club and good for team  morale , I’d like to think the fans , players and families enjoy  the pics ….especially after a win . I guess it’s always nice to get a little buzz to see ones picture in the local press too …for me and the players .
I never really got into it for financial gain. (that’s not to say I wouldn`t welcome people to purchase any shots from the photobox link ) ….but to help in any small way to keep the history of the Streatham Redskins rolling on ….for the next generation , hopefully I can still be involved at the nice shiny new rink . My only request is a decent spot to shoot from and some decent lighting .
What is your favourite type of hockey photo ?
I`d prefer to be shooting at a lower height really .. more at ice level , The area between the two benches at Brixton was a great spot , but now the mixing desk is there & I don’t really like shooting through plexi .  I’ve moved my small platform to alongside the away teams bench , it gains me some height so that I can shoot over their heads.
I like to try & capture the action shots if I can, a player at full flight … arm outstretched fending off an opposing player whilst steering the puck with his  other hand , I like to see the player  & puck in the same frame if possible  and also it’s important to me to try & get the players’  face in focus . I think it’s important to see the players eyes if I can .
A couple  of pictures come to mind quickly … the one of Jerry Pavlus  at  full stretch in the above mentioned pose   at  Brixton and   Thomas Valko  at full tilt at Bracknell  , gives a great impression of speed .  I think maybe they`re on the wall in the locker room .  Mr magic Johnston is  always very photogenic  too  .
Do you find a particular aspect of the game hard to capture?
It is a difficult thing  to do , maybe that`s why I like the challenge , it’s such a fast moving game , by the time you`ve focused on a player  he`s passed the puck or had a shot on goal ,  do I try &  capture the player shooting … or the puck going past the keeper?
With the longish lens that I use it’s almost impossible to do both .  I think the biggest problem for me  shooting  hockey is the lighting , not being allowed to use a flash of course ,  if it were a little brighter in the rink it would be massively easier for me .
It’s taken me a little while , a lot of pictures , some new  ( read expensive ) kit , & some new software …. but recently I’ve changed my techniques and workflow .
It takes me longer to upload  the images and post processing  takes longer but I am getting more control over the finished images now .
What else do you take photos of?
I guess I quite like taking  wildlife pics , I was lucky enough  to go to Vancouver a couple of years back and loved taking pics of  Orca  killer whales , and bald eagles amazing animals ,  but not having them here  I make do with  some badgers that visit my garden fairly regularly, along with the ring neck parakeets  and other small garden birds ,  motorcycling is my  other big passion.
So there`s  quite a lot of bike pics in my collection , I’d like to do more bike racing shots really  but  getting passes etc. is a pain . I’d like to do more stuff with  lighting really next , off camera flash type stuff . maybe some work with models ,  lighting in photography is such a big deal , a small change even in where the light is positioned can make a huge difference to the finished shot .
What’s the funniest photography related story you can remember ?
I can’t think of any massively humorous photography related stories , the usual turning up with your camera and no battery or memory cards , getting attacked by a deer at Richmond park when Ziggy the dog disturbed a doe & it’s young , getting hit in the inner thigh by a flying puck at some hockey match , kicking the football at one of my sons Sunday games ,planting my left foot in the slippery mud and landing flat on my back raised a bit of a cheer , I guess the biggest incident involved a cup of coffee and my  laptop …… but the least said about that the better …..
Lastly I`d like to thank the hockey club for allowing me to join the fold , Barry Graham Don & Terry and  all the female backroom  staff etc. and all the hard work they do behind the scenes ,  Tesco & Lambeth Council  for building a new facility ( including a temporary venue ) and also a big thank you to the club journo who does so much  fantastic work for the club too ……… a Dave   something or other ……..
To check out Rick’s pictures visit the link below: